McLean & Company, a global HR research and advisory firm, has released The Future of Workplace Collaboration, a comprehensive report based on a 2025 survey of 467 professionals and insights from over 150 sources. The study underscores how organizations must intentionally balance human connection, processes, and technology to foster effective collaboration amid hybrid work, AI advancements, and evolving employee expectations, ultimately driving engagement, retention, and productivity.
Collaboration has evolved beyond simple teamwork into a dynamic ecosystem integrating human interactions with AI and global teams. The report highlights that without deliberate strategies, organizations risk silos, inefficiencies, and burnout. Effective collaboration, however, catalyzes agility, innovation, and profitability by aligning people, processes, and technology.
"Collaboration is often regarded as a workplace activity, but in reality, it's so much more," said Alexandra Zawora, Manager, Human Resources Research & Advisory Services, at McLean & Company. "Our research shows that effective collaboration must be intentional and balanced, combining human connection with technology-enabled efficiency. Organizations that fail to adapt risk missed opportunities, siloed operations, and diminished employee experience."
Survey data reveals that employees in collaborative environments are 5.4 times more engaged and 1.9 times more likely to stay, while high-performing organizations leveraging technology for collaboration achieve twice the productivity. Nearly one in three respondents report under-collaboration causing silos, while over-collaboration leads to meeting overload and burnout. Striking balance is essential for sustained performance.
Technology now acts as a strategic partner, from AI chatbots to collaborative robotics, enhancing agility but introducing risks like privacy concerns and eroded human skills. Structural barriers, including inefficient processes and lack of collaboration skills, persist, demanding cultural shifts to build trust and reward teamwork.
The report outlines six enablers HR must activate with executives: fostering a collaborative culture, building relevant skills, streamlining processes, selecting enabling technology, optimizing structures, and partnering strategically. It provides a reflection framework—from priority assessment to actionable steps—for diagnosing current states and designing resilient environments.
"When done well, collaboration becomes a catalyst for agility, innovation, and profitability," said Rachel Stewart, Associate Vice President, HR Research & Advisory Services, at McLean & Company. "But without intentional design, it risks creating inefficiency and frustration. This report equips HR leaders and executives with the tools to diagnose their current state and build tailored strategies that enable collaboration to flourish across people, processes, and technology."
McLean & Company's data-driven, human-centric approach helps organizations remove barriers, enhance trust, and prepare for future challenges, turning collaboration into a competitive advantage.
McLean & Company pairs evidence-based research and immediately applicable tools with deep HR expertise to position organizations to meet today's needs and prepare for the future. The global HR research and advisory firm's member organizations enjoy comprehensive resources, full-service diagnostics, workshops, action plans, and advisory services for all levels of HR professionals, from executive leadership to HR leaders to HR team members, that help shape workplaces where everyone thrives.
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